FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
May 17, 2023
Media Contact: Melissa Garriga
CODEPINK Calls Out Northrop Grumman’s “Robust” Hypocrisy at Annual Shareholders Meeting
WASHINGTON–CODEPINK was present today at Northrop Grumman’s Annual Shareholders meeting in D.C. CEO Kathy Warden opened with the corporation’s so-called pressing challenges of defending freedom and democracy globally to welcoming applause from an audience who makes a killing off of killing.
CODEPINK activist Oliva DiNucci questioned the corporation’s commitment to human rights and sustainability while it sells weapons to Israel and Saudi Arabia, two purveyors of egregious human rights violations. CEO Kathy Warden assured the room of shareholders that “the products we sell are in the hands of responsible governments.” That may be true if their idea of “responsible governments” include those responsible for the murder of innocent lives and destruction of homes in Palestine and Yemen.
“So we are funding the atrocities that so-called [responsible governments of] Israel and Saudi Arabia carried out in Palestine and on the Yemeni people. And so, “robust transparency” would then mean we know exactly where those things are going. So I call that hypocrisy out,” stated DiNucci.
Concerning Northrop Grumman’s commitment to sustainability, Warden gave a word salad answer where she claimed they hold themselves accountable through ESG reports and that somehow providing weapons of war across the globe to protect “democracy” helps reduce emissions and protect the climate.
However, the U. S. military is the largest institutional polluter of greenhouse gasses worldwide. The more weapons Northrop Grumman puts in the hands of our military and repressive regimes across the globe, the more irreversible damage to the climate and our planet.
“I hope that you all will move away from the war economy into a more just one for a livable future for everyone,” said Olivia DiNucci before yielding the floor.
You can view the full transcript here.
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